Leaders of the House of Representatives voiced opposition on Tuesday to the Obama administration’s decision to release 15 detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the United Arab Emirates.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) said that the administration had decided “once again” to value the priorities of the extreme left over the security of the American people.
“While we have prevented the president from shutting down the prison at Guantanamo Bay, he continues to put American lives at risk by releasing terrorists held there — many of whom ultimately end up back on the battlefield killing American soldiers and plotting attacks against us here at home,” Scalise said. “President Obama needs to stop putting American lives at risk by immediately ending the dangerous practice of releasing terrorists from Guantanamo, and instead focus on devising a comprehensive strategy to defeat radical Islamic terrorists, which so far he has failed to do.”
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), the leader of the Tuesday Group, a caucus of approximately 60 moderate Republican members of the House, said that the president continues to undermine congressional intent to keep the Guantanamo Bay detention facility open.
“These actions prove, as I have said before, that he is clearly placing his own ideology above the security of the American people,” Dent said. “The 15 detainees he plans to release are dangerous individuals, many of whom have suspected ties to terrorist organizations.”
Dent cited a report from the director of national intelligence that at least 117 detainees who have left Guantanamo Bay had re-engaged in terrorist activities.
“For this very reason, I have voted against the President bringing these terrorists to American soil,” Dent added. “Unfortunately, there is no law stopping him from transferring these ruthless killers to other countries, where they can easily reintegrate and once again join the fight against the United States and our allies.”
Dent concluded that the president’s actions were “unacceptable,” and that the public should be “dismayed” at his dismissive attitude toward terrorist threats facing the nation.